Derrick Rose Injury: Bulls Guard Out for Playoffs with Torn ACL

Chicago's Derrick Rose tore his ACL in Game 1 of in the first round of last year's playoffs and was expected to miss a minimum of eight months. Photo: Reuters

Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose is out for the remainder of the NBA playoffs after tearing his ACL in his left knee on Saturday against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Rose fell to the ground clutching his left knee during the fourth quarter of the Bulls' 103-91 victory in Game 1. The team announced after the win that Rose suffered a torn ACL and will likely undergo surgery in the next few days.

The loss of their All-Star point guard is a major blow for the top team in the Eastern Conference. Rose, one of the NBA's top point guards, is the engine that drives the defensive-minded Bulls on offense.

The Bulls seemed destined for a showdown with the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference finals, but will now have to rely on backup point guard John Lucas III to guide them in the playoffs.

It's like the saddest win, Bulls shooting guardKyle Korver said. Regardless, we've got to pick ourselves up. We've played a lot of games this year without him. So maybe it was just getting us ready for this.

Rose missed 27 games this season with a variety of different injuries, including turf toe, back spasms, and foot injuries. It looked as if he had turned the corner and gotten healthy ahead of the playoffs, but suffered another devastating injury.

It's tough, Carlos Boozer said. It seems like he just can't catch a break. ... I just feel for him, man. He really can't catch a break this season.

The injury to Rose is also one that will surely be debated and questioned by fans due to it occurring with only 1:05 left in the fourth quarter. Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau defended the decision to leave Rose late in a game that looked clinched for the Bulls, but it will be a point of contention in Chicago this week.